Sponsorship :: Ugandan Schools Sponsorship Programme
Ugandan Schools Sponsorship Programme

In partnership with Dentaid, Rugurama Hospital – a not-for-profit Church hospital – based in Kabale in SW Uganda, has been at the forefront of improving oral health services, both in the Kabale region and more widely in Uganda and nearby Rwanda. Under the directorship of Dr Chris & Polly Barton and their team, one of this partnership's main achievements was the development of a pioneering school oral health programme.
The Background
In the UK children are fortunate enough to receive quality dental treatment and nearly all have the means to brush their teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.
In Uganda, children are not so lucky. Only a small proportion of children ever see a dentist, most of whom are poorly equipped and only present in the main towns. More seriously, few families can afford toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste, thus not benefiting from their preventive benefits. As a result, untreated dental disease is commonplace causing pain, low self esteem and occasionally life threatening infections.
The development and expansion of this project has been well supported by dozens of UK Lion's Clubs, who were able to subsidise the programme, development of its innovative components and expansion to other schools and countries.
On behalf of the many hundreds of Ugandan school children who have benefitted from this programme, we would also like to thank Dentaid's generous supporters, for the contribution they have made towards this project, by sponsoring individual schools over the last few years.
JJ08/09
